The Punjab Police, that recently launched a massive anti-drugs operation, has also started an initiative to purge itself by providing support to addicted officers.

This is the first instance in the history of India that a police department has launched a drug 'de-addiction' drive for its staff.

Sources say Punjab police has a number of officers who are drug addicts and the department has initiated the rehabilitation to rid them of their condition.

Treatment: Superintendent of Police NPS Sidhu stands beside an addicted officer at the drug addiction centre in Muktsar. Sources say Punjab police has a number of officers who are drug addicts and the department has initiated the rehabilitation to rid them of their condition

Four personnel posted at Muktsar Sahib, 241 kms from Chandigarh, were on Monday asked to join a 10-day de-addiction camp launched for common drug addicts.

"We want to break the chain of drug smuggling and addiction. Anyone can fall prey to addiction. Policemen are also human beings. I had asked the SHOs and DSPs to identify addict policemen.

"Four of them joined the camp on Monday. Efforts are on to find out more such addicts from the region," Muktsar Sahib Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Chahal told Mail Today.

Eleven drug addicts, including three head constables and a constable, joined the de-addiction programme on Monday.

Chahal said the drive was started from the Malwa region and is already in progress in other Punjab districts.